Independent columnist Bruce Anderson has long been a supporter of David Cameron. Three years ago he wrote a puff piece on him for The Spectator and was one of the first columnists to endorse the MP for Witney's Tory leadership bid. It has been suggested that he played an important background advisory role in the early days of Project Cameron. Mr Anderson is still impressed with Mr Cameron - writing this morning that he is taken seriously throughout Westminster as a potential Prime Minister.
It is noteworthy, therefore, when he says that David Cameron is underperforming in the opinion polls. This is what Mr Anderson writes for this morning's Independent:
"The recent polls measure an insufficient achievement. The Government is disintegrating. Everything it touches turns to ridicule. There is hardly a minister who could claim to enjoy the public's confidence. As for Mr Blair, he appears to have lost interest in Britain's domestic problems... A PM who is no longer in contact with reality; a set of ministers who cannot cope with it. In normal circumstances, an Opposition with a plausible leader - as Mr Cameron is - ought to be 15 points ahead, not five."
Mr Anderson - pointing the finger at Oliver Letwin and Francis Maude - believes that the Tories must move beyond the 'modernisation phase'. He suggests that the modernisers have underestimated their "leader's powers of salesmanship". The Tories are already looking nicer and more normal. Mr Anderson urges an emphasis on "harder-edged" messages:
"A large number of voters now believe that the country is in a mess and that the Government is to blame. They do not just want warm fuzzies from the Opposition. They want to hear their own anger articulated."
On yesterday's Diary ConservativeHome recommended more attention be given to the concerns of Britain's strivers.
Err, Jack...this is a democratic forum, isn't it? There are even posters here who support other parties.
Christina is a Tory, indeed she resigned from UKIP in order to rejoin the party.
As long as she does not use obscenity she has every right to criticise David as I'm sure HE would be the first to agree.
If you don't agree with her then argue your case like a mature individual. Don't run squinnying for a ban.
That's the kind of thing the BNP would do.
Posted by: John G | August 08, 2006 at 20:46
I have noted the people who ignored my request to get back on thread and if they disrupt a future thread in the same way I will ban them from commenting.
I'm now closing this thread.
Posted by: Editor | August 08, 2006 at 21:19